Analysis of nutritional components, volatile properties, and sensory attributes of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix: Characterization study

Nutritional compositions, volatile compounds, and sensory attributes of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix were analyzed in order to examine its practical utilization as a food resource. In the proximate analysis, protein and lipid contents were shown to be 14.6 and 5.0 mg/100 g, respectively, in C. wilfordii Radix. Potassium was the most predominant mineral (809 mg/100 g), as determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry in parallel with microwave acid digestion. Total phenolic content was found to be 410 mg/100 g. Further, arginine and linoleic acid were the most abundant amino acid and fatty acid of C. wilfordii Radix, respectively. To examine its functional properties, classical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) analysis was performed. As a result, the concentration of C. wilfordii Radix required to scavenge 50% of DPPH radicals was 1.16 mg of dried material. Lastly, in olfactory and sensory tests, β-eudesmol (woody odor) was the major flavor compound responsible for the bitter taste and sensory attributes of C. wilfordii Radix. Taken altogether, the above results provide important preliminary results for utilization of C. wilfordii Radix as a food resource.